For the last 6 years or so on the International Cricket scene, Afghanistan has always been included in the “Dark Horse” category before every major tournament. This may have finally changed. Afghanistan might finally have evolved from the “Dark Horse” category into the “Contenders”. At least in this T20 World Cup, they have.
And it sure was no easy journey for the Asian side. Qualifying for the Semifinals with India and Australia present in your Super 8 group is on paper an impossible task. But who knew, Afghanistan would exact their revenge from that night in Mumbai last year, eventually being the ones to knock out the Current T20, ODI and TEST World Champions. Afghanistan sealed their place in the Semifinals with a win against Bangladesh today. After managing a measly total of just 115 for 5 in their 20 overs, Afghanistan cleaned out the Bangladeshi batting lineup for just 105 in a rain-affected match.
With this win, Afghanistan have booked their place against South Africa in the Semifinals of the T20 WC. Ever since establishing themselves as a top 10 team in the ICC rankings, Afghanistan have always been considered to be a team with immense cricketing talent, a team that will have much to offer to cricket in n the coming years. This was the narrative about them back during the 2019 ICC World Cup. Ever since then, they’ve kept improving. The time of their emergence as a top cricketing side at least in the T20i circuit has started now. They will no longer be a team against whom stronger sides will bench their best 11 to give them rest. Afghanistan have proved a point in this World Cup, that they are meant to be taken seriously henceforth.
Fairytale campaign ft. Afghanistan
Afghanistan started their ICC WT20 campaign with a mammoth win over Uganda. Followed by a David vs Goliath matchup against the Kiwis which the Afghanis won more than just convincingly by a margin of 84 runs. After thrashing Papua New Guinea, they lost for the first time in the tournament against the West Indies. But they did manage to book their slot in the Super 8 where they started on the wrong foot after losing against an unbeaten Indian side. All hope seemed lost for them as next up was a side who had given many Afghanis nightmares in the last ICC tournament they faced each other in, Australia. But this time, it was time for revenge. And revenge was delivered in the most beautiful way possible. After their triumph against the Aussies, Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 8 runs and now will look to go as far as they can in the T20 WC.
